The Peace Agreement of Hat Yai (1989) marked the end of the Communist insurgency in Malaysia (1968–1989). It was signed and ratified by the Malayan Communist Party (MCP), and the

Malaysian Malaysian may refer to: * Something from or related to Malaysia, a country in Southeast Asia * Malaysian Malay, a dialect of Malay language spoken mainly in Malaysia * Malaysian people, people who are identified with the country of Malaysia regard ...

and

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

governments at the Lee Gardens Hotel in

Hat Yai Hat Yai ( th, หาดใหญ่, , also Haad Yai or Had Yai) is a city in southern Thailand near the Malaysian border. It is south of Bangkok, and has a population of 156,802 (2019) in the city itself and an urban population of about 400,00 ...

, on 2 December 1989.

Background

Losses in Peninsular Malaysia weakened the party's position and forced it to negotiate peace. The MCP realized that they no longer had a place to seek sanctuary, not even in Peninsular Malaysia. The deal was brokered by Thai authorities in collaboration with the Malaysian government. The peace agreement required the MCP to disband its armed units, cease militant activity, destroy its weapons and pledge loyalty to His Majesty the Yang di Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. After 40 years, 5 months and 26 days (since the start of the

Malayan Emergency The Malayan Emergency, also known as the Anti–British National Liberation War was a guerrilla war fought in British Malaya between communist pro-independence fighters of the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA) and the military forces o ...

, from 16 June 1948 to 2 December 1989), the MCP insurgency had ended.

Signatories

The following delegates were present at the signing of the agreement in 1989:

Malaysian delegation

* Wan Sidek Wan Abdul Rahman (Ministry of Home Affairs Secretary General) * General

Hashim Mohd Ali Hashim ( ar, هاشم) is a common male Arabic given name. Hashim may also refer to: *Hashim Amir Ali *Hashim (poet) *Hashim Amla *Hashim Thaçi *Hashim Khan *Hashim Qureshi *Hashim Ali Khan, Mir Hashim Ali Khan *Hashim al-Atassi *Hashim ibn Abd M ...

(

Malaysian Armed Forces The Malaysian Armed Forces (: MAF; ms, Angkatan Tentera Malaysia; Jawi: ), are the armed forces of Malaysia, consists of three branches; the Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The number of MAF active pers ...

Chief) * Mohammed Hanif Omar ( Royal Malaysian Police, Inspector General of Police)

Thai delegation

* Anek Sithipresasana (Minister of Interior Permanent Secretary) * General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh ( Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Deputy Director) * General Sawaeng Therasawat ( Royal Thai Police Director General) * Lieutenant General Yoodhana Yamphundu ( Royal Thai Army 4th Army Area Commander)

Malayan Communist Party delegation

* Chin Peng (MCP Secretary General) *

Abdullah CD Cik Dat bin Anjang Abdullah, commonly known as Abdullah CD (born 2 October 1923), is a former Malaysian politician who served as chairman and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM). Biography Abdullah was born on 2 October 1 ...

(MCP Chairman) *

Rashid Maidin Rashid Maidin (10 October 1917 – 1 September 2006), sometimes given as Rashid Mahideen, was a senior leader of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM). Personal life He was born in Kampung Gunung Mesah, Gopeng, Perak; coincidentally on the same ...

(MCP Central Committee Member)

Aftermath

After the signing of the 1989 peace agreement, the Malayan Communist Party was dissolved. Former members of the MCP were resettled in four villages known as ''Kampung Aman'' (Peace Village). A total of 330 former MCP members were allowed to return to Malaysia. Those MCP members who settled in South Thailand became farmers, livestock breeders, and traders. They were able to adapt to the new environment and assimilate into the local community. Members of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM-ML), a splinter group of the MCP, were resettled in a Friendship Village in

South Thailand Southern Thailand, Southern Siam or Tambralinga is a southernmost cultural region of Thailand, separated from Central Thailand region by the Kra Isthmus. Geography Southern Thailand is on the Malay Peninsula, with an area of around , bounded t ...

known as Chulaborn Village. CPM-ML members who wanted to return to Peninsular Malaysia were required to comply with several conditions set by the government of Malaysia before being able to settle in the state of their choice.

References

{{Authority control Communism in Malaysia 1989 in Malaysia 1989 in Thailand December 1989 events in Thailand